Rye and Sidley through in FA Cup

Heading the way were Rye United and Sidley United, who both celebrated 1-0 victories away from home in the FA Cup extra preliminary round.

Sidley bounced back from their 9-1 thrashing at Peacehaven & Telscombe in the league three days earlier with a terrific victory over Hassocks on Saturday.

Dominic Clarke scored the all-important goal in the first 20 minutes as the Blues achieved their first FA Cup victory for four years despite losing goalkeeper Matt Dann through injury in the warm-up.

Rye pulled off their first ever FA Cup success in another all-Sussex Division One tie against St Francis Rangers on Sunday. Matt Maclean was on target in the 38th minute.

Little Common kicked-off their Division Two campaign with a 4-0 triumph at Wick through Jamie Crone, Lewis Hole, Jordan Wood and Chris Cumming-Bart.

Bexhill United won 4-3 in a thriller away to Southwick despite having Nathan Tudor sent-off. Casey Ham (2), Dan Hill and Paul Rogers scored Bexhill’s goals.

Westfield had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Oakwood having looked in control when Gordon Cuddington and David Pugh put them two-up.

Full reports on all these games will appear in Friday’s Observers.